Families and friends are sometimes confused about what intervention services actually do to help a drug addict or alcoholic get better. That’s a link to a very popular Indiana Intervention Company that specializes in early interventions. Other places like the Brentwood clinic take over once the intervention team accomplishes its task. If you have a family member or friend who suffers from alcoholism or drug addiction, the good news is that interventions often work to give the sufferer a clear perspective of what the addiction is doing to the people they love. It’s a small stepping stone to a larger field of recovery.
When to intervene Early signs of drug addiction are often overlooked by family and friends. They may think the family member or friend is just suffering from a life hardship. Maybe they’re stressed about work. Maybe they’re having relationship trouble. If the addict shows signs of sickness, they may even think there’s some physical explanation for it. When a lot of things go wrong in someone’s life, drug addiction and alcoholism are often the last thing that crosses the mind of a caring individual. By the time family and friends realize the problem is drug or alcohol, the addiction might have gone on so long that the sufferer’s life is entirely ruined. So if you’re asking yourself, “When is it time to intervene,” the answer to that question is usually as soon as you feel there’s a genuine problem that can lead to ruin. The devastation of drug addiction and alcoholism doesn’t have to reach its final, sad conclusion before an intervention performs its intended task.
Why intervene? If you see someone who is making catastrophic decisions in their life, it’s natural to step in and tell this person what you’ve observed. More than other people, addicts don’t understand the consequences of their actions sometimes. They’re not of sound mind because their minds are fogged by drugs. Caring family and friends can lend them a sane ear and let them see themselves for what they are. The question of why to intervene becomes clear when you consider that addiction and alcoholism generally leads to death. Intervene to save the life of someone you love and even if that intervention fails, know that you did your best to save them.
Finding quality intervention services The hallmarks of a good intervention service are evident from the beginning. First of all, it’s important for the staff to have either experienced drug and alcohol addiction firsthand or as family members of drug addicts or alcoholics. If there’s no formal life training in addiction, they need to have qualifications as counselors who have worked with and successfully treated drug addicts and alcoholics. A staff of interventionists need to know the things to say to drug addicts and alcoholics so that they get the results intended.
The end goal The end goal of an intervention is that the drug addict or alcoholic will seek treatment at the end of the intervention. No addict can be expected just to realize they have a problem and then put drugs down forever. There are many addicts who want to do just that but can’t because they can’t face the unbearable withdrawal symptoms that inevitably set in once they stop using drugs. For those people, treatment is the end goal. They need to go to a medical facility to detox and learn how to live their life again as a sober person. Some people haven’t been sober in so long that their brain chemistry simply won’t allow them to view life as a normal person, no matter how badly they might want to.
Don’t give up Interventions are only one way to help a family member who suffers from addiction. It’s only a stepping stone but it’s sometimes the best and most effective way to let an addict see the impact their addiction has had on their own life and the lives of those they love. It’s a critical point in recovery where the addict decides whether or not to step away from their destructive path or step back on it and continue on until they’ve had enough, always hoping that it won’t be too late. Contacting an interventionist to see what services they offer is a vital first step for concerned friends and families. Talk to qualified staff and they can work with you to devise an intervention that will be powerful enough to work.
Mike Morgan is a health enthusiast and has written several health articles for various health magazines.
Comment:*
Nickname*
E-mail*
Website
